morkys said:
So how many days of riding is there in Newfoundland in terms of XC trails? Mountain bike trails but not all double-track road riding and also not DH riding. Could I plan a week vacation to Newfoundland and include 3 or 4 days of solid XC riding/exploring? On other days, ride road and do other 'activities' besides cycling?
Is there anybody in Southern Ontario who has gone riding in Newfoundland? It would be great if somebody from Southern Ontario has feedback on how the xc trails in newfoundland compare. I would love comparisons to the Don Valley trails and Durham Forest or other 'race' courses in Southern Ontario etc.
I can really only speak of the trails near St. John's because that's where I live. Newfoundland's a big island with population centres spread quite far apart. I hear there are a lot of good trails in the Corner Brook area but that's 700km from here so it's not really a day trip.
Depending on how much actual riding you plan to do, I'd say there's a solid couple or three days worth of riding (primarily singletrack) around St. John's. Sections of the East Coast Trail are rideable and these offer spectacular views as well as lots of nice singletrack. Bikes are "officially" not allowed on the trails but we're working towards having them allowed. There haven't been any issues between MTBers and the ECT people, they're mostly tolerant. It's really rugged terrain so there are spots where hike-a-bike is mandatory.
There are also several other areas with lots of singletrack: White Hills in the East end, Southside Hills in the West end and Pippy Park in the North. There is active building and maintenance of MTB-specific trails in White Hills and the Southside Hills. It's slow going because the scene's pretty small but we're slowly developing some primo singletrack.
As for the terrain, it's very rugged with lots of rock and short steep hills and ravines, which makes for very technical trails. For reference, I've ridden the Hydrocut in Waterloo and Hardwood Hills and there is nothing even remotely like that here. No smooth hardpack at all, really. All of the singletrack is really techy. Steep ups and downs, lots of pointy rocks and roots and a fair amount of bare rock. . It's also hard to find if you're not connected with a local or two. There is a trail guide available but it's a bit out of date. If you do decide to come here drop me a PM and I'd be happy to show you the trails.
There are lots of other things to do. Plenty of hikes to do and I'd highly recommend sea kayaking which can be done around St. John's. There are also whale watching tours (humpbacks) but they're better seen from a kayak. If you're heading to the west coast, Gros Morne NP is a must-see. Lots of hiking and kayaking to be done around there too and probably some riding to be done. St. John's is an old town so there's lots of historical/architectural stuff as well, if you're interested in that.
Come in July or August, you'll have a better chance of good weather.
Here are a few images of a recent trail build day and one of me riding one of the "XC" trails to give you an idea of the terrain we have here.
Hope this was helpful.
